Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Kissimmee City Commission held a special meeting on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 5:00 PM to consider the Articles of Impeachment against Mayor Olga Espinosa, presented by Special Prosecutor Mayanne Downs. Vice Mayor Angela Eady presided. The meeting was governed by strict procedural rules, including a prohibition on public comment. The meeting adjourned at 5:43 PM after the motion to accept the Articles failed on a 2–2 vote.
Special Prosecutor Mayanne Downs argued for accepting the Articles, stating Mayor Espinosa violated Sections 30-22, 30-23(b), and 30-24 of the Kissimmee City Code of Ethics. Downs presented evidence that the Mayor had initiated and voted three times (on December 17, 2024, April 15, 2025, and September 3, 2025) to fund and approve the Boost 2.0 small business grant program, without disclosing her financial interest or disqualifying herself. Following these votes, three businesses affiliated with the Mayor (Dan's LLC, Real Estate Gallery LLC, and a third entity) applied for and received a total of $50,000 in grants. Downs emphasized the conduct was substantiated by city records and that the Mayor failed to return the funds or seek proper guidance. She urged the Commission to complete the process and set the matter for a trial.
Defense Attorney Migdalia Perez argued the Commission should reject the Articles, characterizing the process as fundamentally unfair. She contended the legal questions were complex and better suited for the Florida Commission on Ethics, which had jurisdiction over state law. Perez argued the Mayor did not change program eligibility rules, pressure city staff, or approve her own applications. She asserted that voting to fund a general relief program was distinct from voting on a direct personal benefit, and that the Mayor's financial interests were publicly reported on her Form 1 disclosure. She also noted the advisory opinion letter from the City Attorney stated the grants 'may have' posed a conflict, which was insufficient to support impeachment under the City Code. She argued the evidentiary record was insufficient to remove an elected official.
Commissioner Janette Martinez questioned the interplay between the state ethics code and the city code. Commissioner Carlos Alvarez III reviewed the city's grant approval process with City Manager Mike Steigerwald, confirming it was administered by the Economic Development Department, and stated he would not vote to impeach the Mayor. Commissioner Noel Ortiz noted the lack of clear guidelines for the process but argued for moving forward to resolve the matter transparently, noting that over $25,000 in taxpayer funds had already been spent. Vice Mayor Angela Eady argued strongly in favor of moving forward, stating the vote was not about guilt but about allowing the process to work and restoring the public's trust.
Good evening, everyone. I hereby call this special meeting of the city commission to order at exactly five o'clock. The purpose of the special meeting is limited to hearing the articles of impeachment presented by the special prosecutor and determining whether the city commission will accept those articles. The city clerk will now read the rules in the order of the procedure for the special meeting. For purposes of this special meeting, the following rules and order of procedure shall apply. This special meeting is convened solely to hear the articles of impeachment presented by the special prosecutor, which have now been publicly filed, and to allow the commission to determine whether to accept the articles of impeachment. The vice mayor shall serve as the presiding officer. No public comment will be heard. The special prosecutor shall be provided 15 minutes to present the articles of impeachment. Following the special prosecutor's presentation, the defense shall be provided 15 minutes to present its response to the articles of impeachment. Following the presentations, the vice mayor shall call for a vote of the commission to accept the articles of impeachment. A motion shall be made, followed by a second, and a roll call vote will be taken. Following the commission's vote, the vice mayor shall adjourn the special meeting. The special meeting has a firm end time of 5 50 p.m. This concludes the rule and order of procedure. We will not recognize the special prosecutor. I may end down so as appointed by Judge Munyan at your request to serve as the special prosecutor in this matter. Excuse me, Vice Mayor. Is this being live streamed or is this just in here? I believe I believe it is live streamed among correct. It's being streamed to closed circuit TV out front out in the lobby for folks who cannot make it inside here today. But it's not being live streamed. No. Can we live stream it? Can we turn on the streaming? Oh no, we would need to set up closed captioning, so we can't do that right now. Okay. Just wanted to ask for the record. Thank you. Okay. You now have 15 minutes. All right. Thank you very much. Good afternoon. Um, Madam Vice Mayor, Mr. Mayor Pro Tem, Commissioners. As I said a moment ago, after a vote of this body, pursuant to your code of ethics under your court uh ordinances, Judge Lisa Munion, the chief judge of the Ninth Circuit appointed me as special prosecutor pursuant to the process that is set forth in your own code. What I have done since I've been appointed was what your code authorized me to do and her order directed me to do. I want to point out as we begin this process, I have no client here today. No client in this matter. With the exception of Commissioner Martinez, who I met with one time in my office, found her to be truthful and helpful, and Mayor Espinoza, who I met with one time in my office. I also found her to be truthful. I have no interest other in discharging my responsibilities as Judge Munyan and your code directed that I do. Just a moment about me only because there have been accusations made about me and my role. My mother was born here in 1930.